Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-06


As it was though, her life was so hard, so
different from all she had planned or dreamed
of, twenty years before. Robert Edgcrly
came faithfully over the water to see her
every year or two, sometimes with Brownie,
sometimes without Once, too, the charming
old father came, and his visit was like an
oasis in her desert of toll.
Ono winter when Shirley went to Wash
ngton for Tho Morning Herald, Robert
EdGery went with her She was now dis
tingushed newspaper woman Her descrip-
ton of events was ut once brilliant and accu-
rate. Unmovcd at all times by the glories of
the reign of bosh everywhere about her, she
saw fact, and kept to it.
The rising star in American politics at this
time was a congressman from a western state.
He was not precisely what we call man of
the people, though he had made his own way
in the world But it was poor way as far
as getting riches was concerned. He might
have become wealthy dozen times, but he
held in burning contempt the methods of ell
riching himself which come so easy to many
men in public life He a man incor-
ruptible by money in any shape There had
been that III his life which made the ease and
wealth men sighed for, to be no more than
vile dross for him What did he care for
money!
In this country poor man must be pow
| erful man intellectually, and have very win
ming ways to impress himself sufficiently on
his fellow freemen to get their votes in the
beginning. They demand either uncommon
| talent and honesty or uncommon wealth,
| one or the other
The powerful brain, the winning ways the
new representative of the people had. He
was known to have sprung from the SO called
upper rank of life. He was a person of the
| highest culture, and of wide knowledge of
| men. At the same time there was an air
| about him that somewhat warned off the
| commonplace and the vulgar curious from
approaching him Familiarity. In brief, he
| was not one on whom you would advance
without an introduction, and say in our frank
and beautiful American way:
"Say, mister, what might your business
| be9'
He lost his first election through small
| circumstance. He ordered broied beef
steak at little rustic wayside inn. His oppo-
nent got wind of it and played it upon
thousand strings, till the independent voters
| rose to a man and said
"Well have no SIGH stuck up 'ristacrat
hodin' office i'll this deestrick A man that
fried beefsteak amt good enough fur, amt
| good enuf fur us, Let him go somewhere
else with them monarchial idees"
This unlucky mistake was, however for
given him in time He possessed splendid
ability; he was true as steel. He had clear,
| high minded scorn of crooked ways and
political dickering that worked against him
at first In time, though, as always, this
very quality counted in his favor, and then
he had all his own way. More than all, the
new man was matchless orator He carried
mems hearts in his hand by the power Of his
| eloquence
Shirley had heard Of him frequently, and
he of her. Their two atmospheres had wild
| ened and wdened till at last they touched.
| II hear" said her brother Robert one day,
| "that your great Congressman Dumoray is
to speak tomorrow. Do you know him,
Shirleyr
Il met him-once, some years ago, answered
Shirley calmly.
"Your people seem to be losing their heads
about him. Is he such great things as they
say?'
II don't know" Shirley answered, still
more calmly. 81 don't know enough about
him to say. That awful reverence for Off
cials, even the highest, that some people have,
in general way never did feel and never
expect to-"
"Whyr
"Whya Because l know how they are
made"
Philip Durnoray had gone back to his west
ern home and plunged into political life Its
feverish excitements, its very hazards and
wild uncertainties suited him. On his side,
too, there was something to be overlived,
burning heartache, haunting pain and re-
| greet that must be deadened ere peace came
again. The very knowledge that, in political
| life, to-day he might be upon the crest of the
| top wave of popular favor and tomorrow in
| the trough of the sea, drew him strongly. 1t
| gave him intense and constant mental occu-
| patton. He welcomed it as one in fever well
comes the COOL salt breeze from the sea.
He could dispose Of his life as he pleased
He had only himself to think Of AS be-
tween his fate and Shirley's he had far the
best Of it.
Philip Dumoray was the champion of q
new movement in American politics, move
ment which has for its aim the rights of man
as the fathers meant them when they founded
this government. The simple announcement
that he was to speak drew great throng to
| the house.
The galleries were crowded with ladies,
many of them in bright dresses and hats con-
trasting finely with the dark habit of their
| oocoius. DuihoTay was 10 present great
memorial from the people to their representa-
tives in congress There was buzz of ex-
pectation as the hand of the hall clock pointed
to the hour.
Shirley sat in her place, the faithful Eng
lish brother by her side A man entered
quietly, tall and commanding, of superb
physical presence and perfect grace of man
| ner.
The buzz broke into volume of sound.
| Shirley's eyes swan in a mist. Her heart
throbs came thick and fast. She clutched
the wood of the seat till it made her hand
ache, afterwards. She sat as motonless and
silent as if she had been marble.
| Ah!-
He fascinated her still, and so many years
had passed that at last this weak minded
woman had quite forgiven him.
He smiled and bowed to those about him.
and then sat down grave and a little pale,
perhaps, but quiet and at ease, Shirley saw
him plainly. His hair was white now, thick
| InI, ot,n